Does this make any sense? Probably not.

Photoshop Express now has embedded slideshows. check them...

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:44:00 -0400

Photoshop Express now has embedded slideshows. check them out!

Horton hears a Who!

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:58:00 -0400

With Danelle being off on her quilting retreat (yes, she actually leaves the kids alone with me for the weekend!) and our baseball practice was cancelled today, I loaded up the kids in the car and took them to the movies. Nothing like some M&Ms, Popcorn, and a good movie on a Sunday.

One of the most frustrating things about going to the movies these days with young children is the lack of choices most of the time. If you’re lucky, there is one G rated movie out at any given time. This time: Horton Hears a Who! starring Jim Carrey.

Horton is a 20th Century Fox Animated movie. I really enjoy the Pixar/Disney movies and the kids love them, some of the other studios do a decent job with their animated movies, but often will put in too much “adult humor” for my taste. There was a bit of that in this movie (One scene involves one of the main characters getting stapled in the forehead..), but I didn’t think it was too bad.

I haven’t read the book in a long time, so I don’t know how closely the movie tracks to the book. But I could see shades of Dr. Seuss’ in the dialog throughout the movie. They even used some art in the animation that looks very much like original Dr. Seuss’ artwork.

The animation was actually pretty good. I noticed some nice touches like when Horton gets splashed in the river, his backside is still covered with water in the next frame and they did a good job of showing the reflectiveness of the water on Horton. Not a big deal, but those are the kind of touches that non-Pixar studios have missed in the past.

But, ultimately its about the story (That’s the thing about Pixar movies.. its not about the animation, which is awesome. Its about the story. They have some of the best storytellers in the business!). I think the storytelling in this movie was pretty good. I think Jim Carrey did a good job with Horton. It was funny, but not Jim Carrey over the top funny. Which I think is a good thing.

Overall, the kids enjoyed the movie and would see it again. If you have little kids and like to take them to the movies, I think they would enjoy this one.

BTW.. There is an extended preview of the new Pixar/Disney Wall-E movie that comes out this summer. We get to see a little more of the story this time. Looks very interesting!

Wookieepedia!

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:14:43 -0400

My two boys have become obessed with all things Star Wars. I actually think its a pretty strong statement that a story/movie created over 30 years ago still finds a place with the kids of today.

Now in my day, we’d watch the movies (yes, I saw the original Star Wars in the threatre.. in London in fact. The year: 1977), play with the action figures and be content.

Not today. They want to know every detail about every character from all six movies. And they expect me to know that trivia as well. If I had a nickel for every time they have asked me a “who killed who” or “is so-and-so a bad guy or a good guy?” question, I’d be living hugh mansion and watching Star Wars in my own private THX theatre. (I can dream can’t I?)

So, how do I handle all of this? I’ll tell you:

Wookieepedia!

This is a wikipedia system for Star Wars put together by the Wikipedia group. If you ever wanted to know something about the Star Wars universe. This is the place to find out!

Thanks Wikipedia!

The Townsend Family, 2007 Ardenwood Farm Fremont, CA

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:56:14 -0400

The Townsend Family, 2007

Ardenwood Farm

Fremont, CA

"There’s a 68.71% chance you’re right."

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:51:25 -0400

“There’s a 68.71% chance you’re right.”

- Master Control Program, Tron, 1982.

Watch out! Adobe is building an online empire...

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:47:00 -0400

Watch out! Adobe is building an online empire...:

Interesting article on Adobe’s efforts in the online space.

Kids for the weekend

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:38:41 -0400

Its been a crazy week for me. Lots of developments in the office (more on that later) and Danelle has her annual Quilting Secret Retreat this weekend up in Alamo.

Yes, a bunch of ladies get together Thursday through Sunday in a big old house/conference center place and spend the entire weekend cutting fabric, basting and sewing.

This means that I have had the kids all by myself since Thursday evening. As the kids get older, it actually gets easier in many ways. It would be pretty tough if I was having to worry about bottles, diapers, and the several hundred pounds of gear that accompanied the kids when they were younger.

Today was baseball day. Yes, we’re in the middle of baseball season right now. Zachary is playing Minor-B baseball (this baseball with a pitching machine) and Nathan is playing T-Ball for the first time.

I am really proud of both boys. They played well today and have come far with their baseball skills this season. Both of them got solid hits today and continue to improve week to week. And the most important thing: They like playing and they are having fun.

I think Audrey will be able to play next year. We’ll have to see. For today, she hung out with me and watched the games, played in the dirt, and told me every 15 minutes that she was really hungry and we needed to go to the Snack Bar :-)

Nathan’s game was an inter-league game with the Centerville National League team called the Hooks. It was at Patterson Elementary in the Cabrillo neighborhood in Fremont. I have to say that the fields at Cabrillo are nice, but our Snack Bar has better selection. Our Snack Bar has soda in cans and pizza.

Also, for some reason, they have all of their candy way up high on shelves on the wall. Imagine your 3 year old saying “I want that” and pointing at the shelf on the top of the wall. You want what? “That” Um, yeah. At our snack bar, we have the candy right in front of the kids so they can literally pick it up themselves. I think this works much better.

I do find it ironic that right after we run our kids around for some exercise, we turn around and give them a ticket for the snack bar and that usually results in our children eating Candy, Pizza, Hot Dog, soda, or some other less than ideal choice for a snack. Then again, I don’t think the kids are going to literally sprint across the field for apple wedges or celery. :-)

I think tomorrow we’re going to see the new Dr. Seuss movie with Jim Carrey. More on that tomorrow.